About this sheet
Great trees on the lawn take center stage in this antique print of Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire, printed in color by Benjamin Fawcett for Morris's Picturesque Views of Seats, circa 1870. Three mature specimens, their trunks and lower branches worked in brown and gray-green, stand in the middle distance of this country house view and largely screen the center of the building.
The red brick front with its pedimented center bay is seen past and between the foliage rather than head on, while a long pale stone range, arcaded at ground level, extends to the left in full view. The brickwork is a warm, slightly variegated red rather than a flat tone, with gray stone dressings at the windows and cornice, and the roofline is broken by a shaped central pediment and end turrets. The sky is pale and lightly clouded, giving an even, bright daylight character, and the brick coursing and window detail survive clearly under the color.
The plate comes from A Series of Picturesque Views of Seats of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, edited by the Reverend Francis Orpen Morris (1810 to 1893), the naturalist and clergyman best known for his History of British Birds, and published in London by William Mackenzie; this issue dates from circa 1870. Benjamin Fawcett (1808 to 1893) of Driffield, Yorkshire, one of the finest Victorian color woodblock printers, printed it from a series of separate blocks in register, so the color is printed, not hand colored.
An original Victorian plate removed from the book, this antique print of Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire, is suitable for framing and will appeal to admirers of the house, of Cambridgeshire, and of English country house views. The sheet has generous margins, with the title Wimpole Hall in small capitals below the printed area.
This antique print is in good condition for its age. The paper shows light toning consistent with age, together with a few small spots in the upper margin and a small chip at the lower left corner. Please review the images for further condition details.
This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.
